jeudi 4 juin 2015

THE GIFT OF THE EUCHARIST -- LE DON DE L'EUCHARISTIE -- EL DON DE LA EUCARISTIA

The Gift
of the Eucharist

(Exodus 24:3-8;

Hebrews 9:11-15;

Mark 14:12-26)

Fr. Rene Butler, MS

As we celebrate the
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we rightly focus on
the bread and wine that have been “substantially,” i.e. at the deepest level of
their reality, transformed into what is no longer bread or wine. The real presence
of Jesus in these elements is not only an object of faith to be believed, but
truly a gift to be received with gratitude.

But in practice this
is not always the case. We know how easy it is to be distracted during the Mass
and even as we receive Communion.

Worse still, we live
in a world in which this great gift is increasingly neglected. How could we not
then be reminded of Mary’s words at La Salette: “In the summer, only a few
elderly women go to Mass. The rest work on Sundays all summer, and in the winter,
when they don’t know what to do, they go to Mass only to make fun of religion”?

Our Lady was far from
suggesting that the heavenly bread and wine of the Eucharist can or should
replace the ordinary bread and wine that her people were rightly in dread of
losing. What we receive at Communion derives a great part of its meaning from
the everyday food that we need to survive. Conversely, the abundance that she
promised to those who would heed her words is wonderfully apt to describe the
benefits of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Those who return to the
Lord and to the Sacraments find themselves blessed in so many ways.

There is another
aspect of the Eucharist, however, that we must never forget. The Beautiful Lady
reminds us of it not by her words but by the crucifix she wears on her breast.
The food that we receive in Holy Communion is the Body of Christ “given up for
you” and the Blood of Christ “poured out for you and for many.” This is why we
speak of the “Sacrifice” of the Mass. We renew Christ’s sacrifice. We
participate in the new and eternal Covenant.

And as the sacrifice
of Jesus on the Cross, sealed and validated in his Resurrection, was the source
of our reconciliation, leading to eternal life, so too the Eucharistic
sacrifice gives us food for eternal life, nourishing the reconciled life.